Customer Reviews

The Search

5 star:		(94)
4 star:		(42)
3 star:		(33)
2 star:		(22)
1 star:		(28)

 

 

Reading a book by Nora Roberts is like gaining a whole set of new friends.

Fiona Bristow leads a quiet and fulfilled live on Orcas Island. She runs a dog school, leads a canine search and rescue group and adores living with her three dogs. When she meets Simon Doyle and his dog Jaws (you have to adore him!) she doesn't want to be interested in the moody and blunt wood artist. Ever since she nearly became the vicitm of the Red Scarf serial killer who later murdered her fiance she has been staying away from relationships with men. Simon is also not really interested in starting something with Fiona. Living on small Orcas Island and with his playful puppy is a new experience for him and he enjoys being single. However the more time Fiona and Simon spend together through obedience training for Jaws the more the attraction between them grows.
When a copycat killer starts to murder young woman and it seems that Fiona might be his final victim everything changes. Staying back is no longer an option for Simon and he will do everything to make sure that Fiona stays safe.

Once again Nora Roberts created a great and very entertaining novel. What I enjoyed about "The Search" are the likable, realistic characters and especially the detailed description of Fiona's job, her life on Orcas Island and her relationship with Simon.
IMO this book is the perfect choice for a quiet weekend when you have time for yourself and can really dip into the story. It took me some pages to get into the book but then I loved it. I always appreciate it when an author describes her characters and what is important to them in detail so I enjoyed reading all the little things about Fiona's life and her business. At the end of the book I felt like Fiona, Simon and co. were like friends. I would definitely have something to talk about with them because I learned so much of their life through this book.
I'm not really a dog lover (cats all the way!) but still I enjoyed reading about the dogs and especially the search and rescue missions fascinated me. The book starts with one of these missions and that really helped me to get a connection with Fiona and her dogs.
Fiona is a true survivor and she's a very strong woman. I enjoyed everything about her and Simon's relationship. Simon is a bit moody and says just what he thinks. He reminds me a bit of Brody from "Angels Fall" who is one of my favourite heroes ever. There are some really funny scenes when Simon tries to handle Jaws and also when tries to fight against his feelings for Fiona. I loved how protective he became of her even though he didn't really want to.
The mystery part of the book is not too dark and it's not about figuring out who the killer is. It's more like a character study of the murderers and how it affects the life of Fiona and the people close to her. I enjoyed that the book is not overly dramatic because that wouldn't have worked for me.

So, if you love a book full of multifaceted characters, an intelligent and thrilling mystery plot and a detailed way of writing then "The Search" by Nora Roberts is a book you should read.

I'm so glad each one of is different and weren't made in cookie cutter molds. I read through the other reviews and it seemed readers either loved "The Search" or disliked it for a myriad of reasons. That is as it should be, at least in my opinion, especially with a strongly romance-based novel. We all don't like the same things in our love lives so why should we in the books about romance. Yes, this is a mystery, too, and a thriller but when it comes down to it, it's a romance.

I loved the book. I loved the very strong female protagonist, Fiona. She wasn't the shy, retiring type at all. And because of that, she was able to stand up for herself with the male protagonist, Simon. Yes, he is egotistical, selfish, rude but NOT always. And the rare moments of tenderness are that much more appreciated because they are hard won.

I loved the dogs in the book. Warning: If you are simply not a dog person, you really might have a problem liking this book. But I enjoy the companionship and loyalty of the canine species and enjoyed all the doggish characters in the book. Fiona is a dog trainer so that is a strong component of the book but Roberts is knowledgeable and handled the training sequences well; I even learned some tidbits to use in the future. Fiona is also part of a K-9 Search-and-Rescue team and I truly enjoyed the different SAR adventures.

This actually turned out to be one of my favorite Roberts novels and I am sure I will read it again in the future (which is my standard for a good book - I read SO many books that rarely do I go back and reread one).

I adore Nora Roberts and really love her In Death series. I really just sorta liked this book, primarily for the reasons others have mentioned....way too much detailed explanations about dog training. Midway through the audio book, I finally got annoyed enough at the lengthy dog training explanations and just started skimming through it. One dog training scene with a problem dog last 15 minutes...15 audio book minutes... That's just ridiculous in my opinion. There are parts that are really funny but there's hardly any suspense and the ending is a complete letdown. If you love Nora Roberts, read this just because it's by her but wait for paper back or get it from the library. If you're looking for a good romantic suspense, read some of her past stuff like Public Secrets, Private Scandals, Genuine Lies, Divine Evil, etc. Those are WAAAAAY better.

I really like Nora Roberts, but I was really disappointed in The Search. I was five hours into the book before it got somewhat interesting. The book meanders from long multiple dog training sessions, boring dog rescue searches, and a scene on tree planting. If you make it to the tree planting you're doing well. The two main characters, Fiona and Simon, are fun at times when they are together. There are splashes of humor between the two that will catch you off guard. (So don't have a mouth full of food or drink.)

After escaping a now imprisoned serial killer, Fiona deals with a copy cat serial killer wanting to finish the job. I just didn't care after all the dog training. I think there was a silly theory that Fiona should figure out the minds of these two killers like she figures out the behaviors of dogs? What?

I was expecting a perilous ending when Fiona would confront the man who wanted her dead. It was such a letdown. It ended in about two seconds. No fiery ending whatsoever.

The best of Nora Roberts Romantic Suspense - Carolina Moon, Birthright, Black Hills, and Blue Smoke

To preface, I want to say that I have enjoyed many Nora Roberts' books. I particularly enjoy the suspense/mystery ones mixed with romance. Now, it's clear to me after reading this book that Nora is putting out way too much stuff and either no longer has a decent editor, or is simply allowed to ignore their advice.

If you read this book you will learn a lot about dog training. Really. That's what Nora talks about for pages and pages and pages. Basically she is saying "I did a lot of research on dog training and I'm going to put it in my book to sound authentic" but it only makes it more fake and as far from a romance novel as you can get.

All this time spent with the dogs is, of course, time we don't spend with the main characters--particularly the male lead who is pretty hollow and not particularly interesting or compelling. The relationship is overshadowed by the endless dog training and the female lead is far too Mary Sue. The ending is abrupt and not particularly satisfying. If the author had spent a tenth of the time writing the ending as she did exploring all the aspects of dog training, it might have helped.

I'm so disappointed with this book as it signals to me that Nora Roberts' no longer cares about a good story and that she will simply keep producing as much junk as possible because people will buy it solely based on the sucess of her previous books.

Nora, you should be ashamed of this one.

WOW, this book is really a stinker. I've been an NR fan for years and years, and have been disappointed with her last 10 or so novels. I just chalk it up to the fact that the poor woman has written close to 200 books; she has become almost a parody of herself by now. I think her best work was in the '90s, post-category series novels, when she got into writing excellent single-title novels and trilogies.

So I went into "The Search" expecting it to be a bit disappointing. Instead, I found myself actually grimacing as I read it. The "hero," Simon Doyle, is pretty much the WORST antihero I have ever read in a romance novel. What a total @#$ he is! He seems downright abusive, controlling, bullheaded (not in a charming way), and withholding of affection. Fiona, the heroine, is appealing -- except in her scenes with Simon, in which she comes across as an apologetic doormat who is thrilled with the crumbs he sometimes tosses her way. Repeatedly, he grabs her, pushes her, uses foul language against her (and I am a major cusser, so I normally don't have a problem with the f-bomb, etc.)... He even has a would-be-rapist moment when he basically tells her they are going to go inside and have sex, and she says something coy about "What if I weren't in the mood?" His response is something like, "Do you think, if you said no, that would make me back off? Because it wouldn't." Ugh. Disgusting.

I don't know if NR thinks this level of abuse, control, etc., is erotic; but I sure don't. And though her books have been tending in this direction for a while, this one really is a departure for her. Boo. Hated it. I don't think it qualifies as a romance novel. Sure, they get engaged in the end, and say "I love you"; but for this reader, that absolutely is not enough to make their "love story" believable, palatable, or anything I can feel good about.

This was pretty disappointing for a Nora Roberts book. Usually I inhale her books the day I get them, but this one didn't hold my attention. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't engrossing. It took me a couple days of picking it up and putting it down before I finished it.

The beginning chapter was really interesting. It really helped get me in tune with what she did for her Search & Rescue job. I didn't mind all the details of the training for the search and rescue, most of it was interesting, but I didn't really enjoy so much detail spent on her job as a dog obedience trainer. It was very tedious to me. Maybe if I was a dog lover I would have more patience with it, but as it stands I found it incredibly monotonous. I was turned off by the thought of being expected to devote my entire life to my dog if I wanted them to be well behaved. *Shudder* Then we spent page after page having that belief drilled into our heads. It was just too much.

It wasn't only the details about the dog training that I found irritating, it was the dog trainer too. She held this faintly superior air that set my teeth on edge. In the beginning whenever she talked to Simon about his dog and how he was the one failing the dog she sounded really snotty and superior. Maybe all dog trainers think they're above all the regular dog owners? Then again, maybe not.

I swear, any situation that popped up seemed to be no match for the awesomeness of the behavioral specialist. This woman even outclassed all the police and FBI combined. She knew everything because she worked with dogs, and we're all exactly like dogs, you know?

Simon was a character I wish I got to know better. He was so cute and grumpy. I loved that he liked Fiona despite himself. He didn't want to get involved with anyone. He just wanted to hide out in his house and be left alone. He didn't want to have to comfort anyone and he definitely didn't want someone depending on him. It was cute watching him rush to do something sweet and then try to brush it off like it was nothing. It's too bad that there seemed to be so little focus on him. I never really felt any depth to him. The bones were there, but I never got to the meat of him.

I was tolerating Fiona and trying to ignore her irritating habits, but after she starting staying with Simon, because of an unfortunate situation, she started getting on my last nerve. Fiona is a freakishly clean and organized person. Whenever Simon stayed at her house he respected her unspoken wishes and cleaned up behind himself, even though he's a naturally messy person. When they're in his house she can't show him the same respect.

I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, who wouldn't want someone to clean their house, right? But it was a big enough deal that Simon brought it up in the beginning and told her to leave his stuff alone and not to clean anything. Why couldn't she show him the same respect that he showed her? She organized his freaking drawers! Does that not strike anyone else as crossing the line in someone else's home? Also, when his phone rang she picked it up and chatted with his mom on it. I was just flabbergasted that she didn't see any of that as pushy and crossing boundaries. She wasn't even my girlfriend and I started to feel claustrophobic thinking about living with her.

Simon and Fiona's relationship was a little odd. He kept talking about making compromises with her, but he seemed to be the only one who was doing any bending. Fiona never seemed to have to sacrifice any behavior or belief like he did. Also, he knew that she was subtly training his reactions like she would a dog. He would get ticked thinking about it and go to confront her, but somehow it would fizzle out. It really bothered me, because I could see her doing that abnormally patient dog whisperer thing. You don't treat your boyfriend like you do your dogs. There were just way too many dog similarities to Simon in this book.

Even though I did have problems with the book, mostly Fiona, I did find parts of it entertaining. The dialogue between Fiona and Simon was pretty funny. Really, Simon's internal thoughts about his dog and his relationship were pretty funny on their own. I liked Fiona's friends and I really like the glimpse at Search & Rescue.

I just wish I could have liked the book more. I also wish that Fiona didn't sound like a shrink all the time. She would start to do something foolish, but the minute someone said something to her about it being a bad idea, she would talk herself through her reaction to discover her hidden motives. What was making her act that way? Is it rational? It was really freaky! Who thinks like that?

If this is your first Nora Roberts and you didn't enjoy it, I urge you to pick another and try again. This is really not a good representation of her usual style.

Years ago while jogging one morning, Fiona Bristow was abducted by the Red Scarf Killer, famed for strangling young women and burying them with a red scarf around their necks. While Fiona was the one who got away, the only one actually, the incident still haunts her to this day. The serial killer murdered her fiancé, Greg, who was a cop, and his K-9 dog, Kong, shattering her dreams of marriage and a family. While the culprit is behind bars, the imprint he left on Fiona's life will never fully fade.

Still, as so many do, Fiona triumphed amidst tragedy. She now lives on beautiful Orcas Island, part of the San Juan islands off the coast of Washington State, where she has a cozy home, close friends, a good life and a booming business as a dog trainer. She also has three canine companions --- Peck, Bogard and Newman --- who are all trained to perform search-and-rescue missions, something to which she devotes herself with great success.

When Orcas Island newcomer Simon Doyle enters Fiona's orbit, life is ripe with possibilities. Brought together by Simon's out-of-control puppy, Jaws, Fiona and Simon experience an instant, vibrant attraction to each other. The sexy craftsman who creates beautiful furniture and accessories out of wood is the strong, silent type with a gooey marshmallow center when it comes to Fiona. Just as things are heating up between the pair, though, the past comes crashing back to disturb Fiona's newfound peace.

While the Red Scarf Killer is locked away safely, a copycat killer has emerged and girls are disappearing once again, only to be found strangled with the trademark red scarf around their necks. Fiona's steady world is rocked to the core, and the past is brought back with disturbing reality when the murderer sets his sights on her, the only surviving victim.

Now it's up to Fiona and Simon to get the killer before he gets her. The good thing is that they have found something worth fighting for --- and fight they do. Fiona may have a murderer on her trail, but this dynamic duo is not going to take it laying down. Just as she escaped with wit, cunning and determination the first time, Fiona will fight for her life again --- but this time with Simon by her side. Can the two of them match wits with a madman and win again?

THE SEARCH is one amazing book. Of course, everyone has high hopes for a new Nora Roberts title. It's a given. She hasn't written over 190 books with 400 million copies in print for nothing. We understand that. But this latest entry blows straight past the level of expectation I experience when I reach for her novels.

Fiona Bristow is a character like no other. First off, she is no damsel in distress. She's strong, smart and determined, and made of sterner stuff than most heroines. But she's also warm, lovable, likeable and just good fun. She springs to life on the pages and leaves readers wishing they could find a friend like Fiona. The same is true with Simon. Women the world over are sighing and wishing they knew a man like him. Together, the two characters combine to create a chemical reaction that is nothing less than combustible.

THE SEARCH is not just about love, though. It's also about fear and murder, and a deeply disturbed individual who will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. It will cause goosebumps to rise on your arms and make a chill ripple down your spine. We can be reasonably sure that good will triumph over evil, but getting from Point A to Point B is one bumpy and thrilling ride.

--- Reviewed by Amie Taylor

I am probably going to get bashed by NR fans, but I have to ask what went wrong with The Search? I love NR's books. However, The Search is really just an ok read. I wasn't excited about the suspense because to be honest there was very little. The characters were ok, but not one of them stood out in my mind to the point I was clamoring to know what was going to happen to them. I expect more from NR's books. She is one of the few authors I buy before I check out the reviews. This book seemed like a homege to dogs. It borders to close to Iris Johansen's series. Will I pay my hard earned money for another NR book? Probably as long as she gets back on track.

As a Nora Roberts fan, I was excited for the release of The Search because I live in the area where it took place and am owned by two beautiful and loving yellow Labs. Therefore, it was easy for me to fall into the story and relate to the wonderful characters Nora developed. One thing I have appreciated as Nora Roberts has developed her writing style over the years is her approach to dialogue. It has become snappy, fun, interesting and unexpected. With The Search, I loved going through the dog and human training that occurred in the book, and had to try some of the described techniques with my boys. Nora Roberts is not writing for a Pulitzer Prize, and freely admits this, but she writes for the enjoyment of her millions of fans and meets that goal with each new book she produces. I appreciate that she finds new topics and venues to write about, and will continue to look forward to her publications as long as she produces books for her reading fans. Your choice, read it now and enjoy it, or wait for the paperback. For me, I couldn't wait to crack open the first page and devour the adventures of Fee, Simon and the dogs.